Posted on · Across the country, you’ll find different systems in place for naming and retaining judges. In some states, judges are named by the executive branch and approved or rejected by the legislature. In others, judges are named and then face “retention elections” at regular intervals when voters can choose to retain or dismiss the judge. Here […]
Posted on · Until a new justice is named and confirmed to replace the late Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court, any rulings resulting in a 4-4 tie among the current justices will lead to the lower court ruling being upheld, without a precedent set. When it comes to cases involving the state of Texas, that lower […]
Posted on · A new report from the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition suggests there are economic and social benefits to expanding Harris County's drug diversion programs. To explain, we talk with one of the authors of that report, Jay Jenkins. He's the coalition's project attorney for Harris County. The Harris County DA's office is implementing a "First Chance […]
Posted on · An attorney who represents the City of Houston predicts the city will again prevail in the ongoing legal fight over gay rights.
Posted on · The jury concluded its first day of deliberations Thursday without a verdict. The key question before the panel is whether the city should have accepted more signatures on a petition to challenge the ordinance.
Posted on · Women seeking legal abortions in the state of Texas face longer drives and fewer options today, after the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans late Thursday ruled a law requiring health clinics that offer abortions to meet surgical hospital operating standards could go into effect while a lower court ruling deeming it unconstitutional […]
Posted on · Recently there was some concern that Houston's new Mental Health Court would be closing. Instead, new District Attorney Mike Anderson used asset forfeiture funding to add another judge. Specialty courts like Harris County's mental health, drug and veteran's courts are a growing trend in Texas — and now Governor Perry is trying to get a handle on their success.
Posted on · The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider throwing out the convictions against former Enron CEO Jeff Skilling. He's the highest-ranking executive serving prison time for playing a role in the 2001 collapse of the energy giant. But he says the law that prosecutors used to convict him was incorrectly applied, and that he didn't receive a fair trial. David Pitman has more.
Posted on · A University of Houston law professor says if federal appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor wins confirmation to the Supreme Court she'll add something to the panel that's been missing for almost two decades. Rod Rice reports.